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  • No. 21 Texas Basketball Hangs Tough, But Ultimately Falls to the No. 3 Baylor Bears, 68-61

No. 21 Texas Basketball Hangs Tough, But Ultimately Falls to the No. 3 Baylor Bears, 68-61

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Basketball

Christian Bishop registered 13 points and 11 rebounds, but No. 21/21 Texas (21-9, 10-7 Big 12) dropped a hard-fought 68-61 decision to No. 3/4 Baylor (25-5, 13-4 Big 12) on Monday night before a sellout crowd at the Frank Erwin Center.

Monday's contest marked the final home men's basketball game in the history of the Erwin Center. The Longhorns posted an all-time record of 549-143 in the arena that served as the home of Texas Basketball since the start of the 1977-78 season.

Bishop posted his first double-double of the season and converted 6-of-9 field goals while adding three blocked shots in 33 minutes. Senior Marcus Carr recorded 13 points (3-8 threes) and two assists without a turnover in 35 minutes. Senior Timmy Allen added 10 points, seven rebounds (four offensive) and three assists in 36 minutes.

A back-and-forth first half featured six lead changes and two ties. A Flo Thamba layup gave the Bears a 9-8 advantage at the 14:15 mark. Texas held Baylor scoreless for the next 6:15 while building a 16-9 cushion following an Andrew Jones layup with 8:30 remaining.

The Longhorns took a 26-20 advantage after a Devin Askew transition layup at the 2:58 mark, but the Bears answered with a 7-0 spurt over the next 90 seconds to take a 27-26 lead following a James Akinjo layup with 1:11 remaining. Texas scored the final four points of the half to grab a 30-27 halftime cushion.

UT increased its margin to five points on two occasions in the first four minutes of the second half. Trailing 39-34 after an Allen three-point play with 16:46 left, the Bears used back-to-back three-pointers from Adam Flagler to grab a 40-39 advantage at the 15:38 mark. Baylor increased its cushion to 49-45 following an Akinjo free throw with 10:16 remaining.

The Longhorns fought back to even the score at 54-54 after a Bishop layup at the 6:21 mark. Baylor scored the next nine points to build a 63-54 lead following a pair of Akinjo free throws with 1:53 left and seal the victory.

Texas concludes its regular season when it travels to face No. 6/7 Kansas on Saturday, March 5. Tip is set for 3 p.m. Central at Allen Fieldhouse, and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.